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*There are approximately 26 million veterans in the United States (US Census Data, 2000).

o The number of veterans, family members, and survivors who are potentially eligible for VA benefits and services exceeds 74 million (USDVA Fact Sheet, July 2007).

o The VA provides medical care to 5.5 million (7%), and distributes benefits to 3.5 million of these eligible beneficiaries each year (USDVA Fact Sheet, July 2007).

o In 2005, the USDVA forecasted a $2.6 billion shortfall for meeting the growing healthcare needs of US Veterans. The VA�s patient to doctor ratio has grown from 335 to 1, to 531 to 1, between 2000 and September 2004.

o In January of 2007 the VA Benefits system�s caseload was 2.7 million, with a backlog of more than 600,000 claims�and growing. The average processing time for a VA Claim now stands at 177 days (Brian Friel, �Hurry Up and Wait,� Government Executive, 5/1/07).

o The Government Accountability Office reports the average wait time for the first VA Primary Care appointment currently stands at 1 year (GAO-03-756T, �Department of Veterans Affairs: Key Management Challenges in Health and Disability Programs" May 8, 2003).

o More than 638,000 new VA claims are expected over the next 5 years (Iraq-Afghanistan Veterans of America Report, "Veterans Waiting for Care and Benefits," March 29, 2007.

o The Backlog of Claims at the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims was at 5,800 at the end of the last fiscal year. This is double the number of two years ago, and could hit 10,000 within the next 5 years ("Veterans" Battle for Benefits Can Take Years," Lakeland, FL Ledger, August 13, 2006, Cory Weiss).

o According to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics 225,000 Veterans were incarcerated as of 1998. The Bureau reported that number had fallen to 127,000 by 2004, but added that more than 57% incarcerated veterans were imprisoned for violent offenses, compared to just 47% among civilians.

o Substance abuse rates are higher among veterans than their non-veterans counterparts.

o A recent study of inpatients at VA facilities indicates that nearly 85% have annual incomes of less than $15,000.

o According to a 2007 National Alliance to End Homelessness report 25% of America's homeless are veterans, nearly 200,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, and more than 300,000 will experience homelessness over the course of a year.

+ Of all homeless veterans, 76% suffer from drug, alcohol, or mental health problems (National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients, 1999).

+ There are more than 50,000 Homeless Veterans in California (NAEH Study, 2007)

+ There are more than 33,000 Homeless Veterans in the Los Angeles Metro Region on any given night (Weingart Center Study, 2004).

+ The VA has already identified 1500 homeless veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ("AP, Veterans Make up 1 in 4 Homeless," November 7, 2007).

* Post Traumatic Stress Disorder remains an ongoing challenge for veterans of all eras, and their families. The images from the current war are causing many older veterans (WWII, Korea, Vietnam) to experience recurring PTSD symptoms from their own combat experiences.

*All statements, information and figures stated here are openly available to anyone via many different sources. The facts stated above are credited to the "National Veterans Foundation".